Can-closing machine



A. 10HNS0N. CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I2, 19I6.

Eatented Non. M9 IQZ 6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Ik un P Nw. km.

A. JUHNSON.

CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAII.'I2, 1916.

1,435,3@5 Patented Nov. M, w22;

6 ySHEETS-'SHEET 2.

figg; i

/gg l l I 556 1445, j 45 555 `,557 254 759 I I 5f 1 I ,25.9

2.52" /43 5a ,Z166 Z55 555 .555 3&7/5 j? /05 Z50 .7754.523

A. JOHNSON.

CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I2, I9I6.

Patented Nov. M, 1922..-

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"l' III IIIIIIIIQ* Ill lIII-IIII'I* IIIIQIIII Mxei sfwifman A. JOHNSON.

CAN CLOSING MACH'INE.

APPLICATIONy FILED 1AN.12.19|6.

Patented Nov. M, R922 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

MNM.

KNMP f%h\ A. JOHNSON.

CAN CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I2, 191s.

Patentd. Non M, 192%.

6 SHEETS-SMAU' 5.

K55 f y 24 abre@ John/50m @5% Lw/Z @auf m44 A. JOHNSON.

cAN'cLoslNG MACHINE.

APPLICATWN FILED ,|AN.12, 1916.

v 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6..

Lg Paiememv. 14,1922.

Patented N09. 14, 1922.

UNITED STATESl PATENT oFFlcE.

AXEL JOHNSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAN COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

J .CAN-CLOSING- MACHINE.

Appnction med January 12`, 191e. serial No. 71,772.

-To aZZ 'whom it concern. y

Be it known that I, AXEL JOHNSON, a' citizen of the United States,residing -in Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented a new and useful Improvement lin Can-Closing Machines, ofwhich the following is' a specification.

- The invention relates to'improvements for .closing filled cans, inwhich substantially the following o erations are performed: The cans arefe continuously, as distinguished fromv intermittently, to a seamingV orclosing station; can ends are successively fed into position above suchcans; the can 1s here disengaged from the feeding means and elevated to`the closing instrumentality,

which is ordinarily, in .the case of the sani- -taryl can, a rotaryseaming head, said can 20 engaging and taking. with it, in properpositionon its upper end, the end which has vbeen so fedinto position;the'can is then closed. partly or permanently; it is then deposited atanother place on lthe'said continuously movin feeding means and conveedto theleslred point of delivery.

y such. a mode of feeding and operation the sudden stopping and startingofA the. filled and unclosed cans is obviated, the operationvis smootherand more rapid, and the liability of spilling any of the-contents of thecans is greatly lessened. 1

With such bjects in view as well as other useful results which inhere inAthe apf paratus, the invention consists in the parts ltightening thecan feeding and combinations thereof hereinafter, set forthand claimed.v 'I l In order to make vthe invention more clearly understood Ihaveshown in the accompanying ,drawings means for carrying the same intopractical effect, without limiting by improvements, i n"the1r usefulappl1cat1ons,-to the particular .construction which, for the purpose of.example, I have illustrated. In said drawings:y

' Fig. 1 is a plan view, part y in horlzontal section, of a -can closinglmachine embodyingkthe invention. 7

Fig.'\2 is a perspective view. of the upper portion'of the can lifter orbottom plunger or chuck.

Fig. 3' is a` plan view of the devices for or conveying' chain. y -AFig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, show- Aend, or right-hand end ofFig. 1.

sired point byjan arm 15.

l half of" full size).

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. -7 is an elevation partly in section, illustrating the feed chainadjustingmeans Fig. 8 is a vertical central section of the 65 same.

` Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on line IX-IX of Fig.l 8.

Fig. lO'is a plan view of the can delivery end of the table,illustrating the can end feed cotrol mechanism.

F ig. 11 is a perspective'vi'ew of a part of said mechanism.

'Fig 12 is a vertical section XII-XII of Fig. 13.

13 is a plan view of the can end' feed mechanism on a larger scale.

Fig. 14 is an elevation of the lower part of the machine 'lookingtowards the delivery -on line Referring to the drawings, the main fixedyframework of the machine is indicated at 1. i i

The lled cans without tops are fed either by hand or automatically upona rotating receiving and feed table 2. This table 85 overlaps the marginof a second rotating table 3, which may becalled the can spacingtable,"a11d` which is supported by a bracket 4 of the frame "1', thetable 2 being rotated by suitable driying means. `The cans are 90,deflected on to the spacing Atable at the de- When the cans havetraveled about one half a revolution 'of the table 3, they engage asecond deecting guie rail 20 which 95 vprojects outwardly from e mainfixed table 21 of the machine andfacross the path of the movin cans.When the cans encounter the ra'1l20 their course is `so deiected as todeliver them successively between the arms of a.rotat`rng starwheel 22which de livers the cans from the can spacing tablev 3 on to the maintable 21. Withthe said star wheeli is preferably combined a.'suita ble'topping device 26.v 105 Suitable means are provided to 4guide the cans,such as rails 19, 2O and 54. 49' is a spring guidefforming with one/ofthe rails 54 a yielding Vthroat into/.whlch the cans are thrust by thestan wheel-.22 and which 110 Mounted near the ends of the main table 2lare two sprocket wheels, a drive sprocket 50 and a driven sprocket.d 51,which carry a sprocket chain 52; This chain'which will be referred to asthe feed chain, carries at le spaced intervals, a. plurality ofupwardly' projecting can feed fingers 53 which engage the canssuccessively as they are delivered on to the table 2ll by the star wheel22 and whichl carry them alongthe table, between guide rails 54removably fixedthereon, to

the seaming station.

The drive sprocket wheel 50 is fixed on a shaft` 55 which extendsvertically downward and carries near the lower end thereof a .20 drivensprocket wheel 56. This sprocket is driven by a sprocket chain 57 whichextends rearwardly and around a sprocket pinion 58 on the vertical camshaft 59 of the closing machine.` The sprocket chain 57 I is maintainedat aI proper working tension by means ofv an adjustable idler 57. Thisidler cooperates, in adjustment, with the feed chain adjusting mechanismhereinafter described, to bring the cans to the proper points at thetime when the otherfmechanisms, which are actuated bythe cam shaft' 59,operate. The sprocket wheel 56 is sup ported by ytwo b lts 60 which passthrough two diametrically opposed concentric slots 61 inthe hub 62 ofthe said sprocket wheel 56 and which are screwed into a collar 63 of asleeve 64 which is keyed to the sprocket shaft 55. Extendinghorizontally through the hub 620f this sprocket wheel are two desired toset the conveyer chain.52 backward or forward to accommodate cans of alarger or smaller diameter and to insure a proper delivery of the sameaccurately under the seaming head, it isy necessary to first loosen thetwo binding bolts 60." The twor adjusting screws 65 may then beoperated.

For example, supposeV that itis desired that the conveyer chain 52 beset forwardto ac-l commodate cans of asmaller diameter. By

first loosening the bolts 60 and then loosen.- ing the left hand screw(Fig. 9) and tightenlng the rlght hand one the sleeve 64 will thereby berotated counter clockwise and the shaftI 55 being `keyed thereto, willlalso be turned in the 'same direction relative to the asprocket.56. Thiswill cause the conveyer chain 'drive sprocket 50 'to turn in the samedlrectlon causing theconveying limb of the chain 52 to be advanced. Tnadjusting the conveyerchain for cans of a larger diameter the operationisthe reverse.

y conveyer chai-n has beenmoved the proper if? distance to accommodatecans of' a different ressens When the diameter, the two lochng bolts 60are tightened thereby binding'. the ysprocket wheel 56 against thecollar 63 of the sleeve 64 and causing themto again rotate as one.

Tn'order that `the exactr distance that the conve-yer chain 52 should.be moved for adjustment may be easily ascertained, there is provided onthe outer face of the collar 63 of the sleeve 64 a graduated scale 67.Secured to the hub 62 of the sprocket wheel 56 is an indicator 68 whichmoves across the said scale when the adjusting screws 65 are operated.

The driven feed chain sprocket wheel 51 is fixed on a shaft 69 (Fig. 3)which isjournaled in a bearing` 7() located at one end of an arm 71 of achain tightening lever 72. This lever is pivotally mounted at its'center,- as indicated at 73, upon the bracket 4 of the /machine'andJoelow the feed table 421. The other arm 74 of this lever bears againstan adjustingV screw 75 mounted in a lug T6 integral withthe bracket 4.end of the sprocket bearing 70 is an arcuate slot 77 through whichpasses a cap screw 78. This cap screw is threaded into the bracket 4 andlocks the sprocket wheel bearing 'T0 to the bracket 4 lafter vthetension of the chain has been regulated by means of the adjusting screw75.

The sprocket wheel shaft 69 projects downwardly through an elongatedaperture 79 in the bracket 4 and has keyed thereto at its lower end agear wheel 80. This gear wheel meshes with and drives an idler pinion 81mounted upon a shaft or pivot 81 at theA under side of the bracket 4,which pinion meshes with a second idler 82 and the latter in turn drivesa larger gear wheel 24 clamped to the hollow shaft 23 that carries thestar wheel 22 and the topper 26. The gear kwheel 24 in turn drives astill larger gear wheel v83 clamped'to the shaft 10 of-the can spacingtable 3. The movements of the table 3 and of the topping deviceheretofore described. are thusl eected from the feed chainby this traino fgearing.

Located about midway on the table 21, and in the path of the cans asthey are advanced by the feed chain is a canl lifter or bottom plungerindicated as a whole at 84. The head 85 of this can lifter is slottedvertically At the outer l fas at 86, to permit' the passage of theconveyby an adjusting screw92 threaded into the lower part of thehousing 90. Below the housing` 90 the sleeve 89 continues downward andis vertically s`lidably mounted in a .bear` ing 93 on a casing 94 (Fig.14) secured to theframework '1 of the machine.

In order that the downward action of the can lifter 84 will be of asteady and cush-v ioned character there is provided a coiled end of alever 1,00. This lever extends rearwardly and is pivotally mounted atits middle by means of a pivot pin 101 on the casing 94 of the machine;It is necessary that the can lifter have an 4accurately timed extent ofmovement to take the unclosed cans from and re-deliver the closed cansto the feed chain, and there is provided a means of ad? justment by thecross pin 96. The ends'of this pin on which the links 96 are -journaledare eccentric to its central portion which fits and can be turnedin thebearing 95', and the height ofI the lifter can be regulated by turningsaid cro pin. The latter is held when adjustedv y a tangential clampingscrew 98.

The innermost end of the lifting lever 100 is provided with `a roller102 which enga-ges the track of a can lifter cam 103 fixed upon thevertical cam shaft 59 of the machine and which through the medium ofsaid lever 100, links 96 and sleeve 89 actuates the can lifter head 85.The cam 103 is soshaped and timed in rotation as 'to move the AcanlifterA 84 upwards the instant that-a can has been deposited upon thehead 85 of the same by the conveyer chain 52, in line with the seaminghead. i The forward and can engaging edgeof the can feed fingers 53 isvertical near the base thereof as indicted at 104 and suitablyl 'shapedat its upper part yto permit the cans to be retarded, withoutretardation of the conveyer, in their horizontal movement as they laredisengaged from .the chain j conveyer. In the construction illust-ratedthey are inclined rearwardly at the top as at 105. The can arrives uponthe lifter and the latter begins to rise before the can is, quitecentered on the lifter but while-the canpis rising the 4 vertical partof thelinger continues to advance(the can to centered position, andthere leaves it' whenthe can rises to the 4curved part 105, whichinclines rearwardly ,to com` pensate or partly compensate for thecontinued advance of the chain. This construction gives a practicallength of can engaging \\finger for certainty of operaotn. and thedisengagement of the can is no so abrupt f as to'spill anymf itscontents-,and its rate of advance is gradually diminished as it nears 4and arrives at the point where it is to stop on the lifter.

The top surface of the can lifter head 85 i is provided with -twoIlifter plates 106 and 107 having longitudinally knurled surfaces v(Fig. 2). These plates overhang the conveyer chain slot 86 in the saidhead 85 leaving' a space 109 between them wide enough to permit'thepassage of the fingers of the feed chain through the same. 'The knurledsurfaces 108 of these plates tend to prevent any twisting or rotarymotionof'the'fcan body upon the can lifter head 85 while the can isbeing operated on by the rotary seaming head. The lifter head isprovided with means for gradually, or`withoutabruptness, causing the canto come to reston saidl head as it is lifted away from the finger 53.,One

suitable means for'this purpose is the following: Pivotally mounted atone end as indicated,by a pin 110 upon t-he forwardl edge of the frontlifter plate 106, is a guide bar 111, This bar is yieldably held in aninward position towards the can by a leaf spring 112 secured to an arm113 pivoted to the front of the lifter head as at 114. The arm 113 andoits spring 112 are normally held fast in an engaged position with theguide bar 111 by a cap screw 115 which passes through a slot'116 in the'arm 113 and is threaded into the lifter head 85. a The pivot of theguidel bar 111 consists in a downwardly projecting pin 110 whichterminates in -a head 118. ThisI pin engages a slot 119 in the knurled,base plate 106 and is prevented afrom upward displacement bythe head118 engaging the under side of the said plate. The outer and swingingend of the guide bar 111 is also prevented from any upward movement by asimilar headed pin 120 which, travels in an arcuate slot 121 in-'theplate 106 concentric with the'pivot of the .guide bar. It will beapparent that the guide bar i111, may be removed, by simply looseningthe cap screw 115,- allowing the 'arm 113 'and spring 112 to swingdownward' (and out of engagement Withlthe pivotedfguide bar 111. Theguide barmay then be Jswung forward, disengaging the pin 120 from thearcuate slot 121, lpermitting the bar 111 and'pivot pin 110 to bedisengaged fromthe pivot slot 119. The inner wall of the. guide bar 111is undercut as at 122 so as tov engage the lower flange or seam of a canto prevent any upward movement of the can relative to the can'lifter 84.Rigidly secured to the'rear ofthe head 85 is a second fixed guide bar123 havinga similar 'undercut recess 124 which coacts with it forces thepivoted guide bar 111 outwardly against the pressure-of the spring 112and is thus held rmly, although nottool tightly, upon the can lifterhead 85, and gradually brought to rest by frictional resistance with#Yout an abrupt stop. -'llhe can lifter head hav-` ing previouslycommenced to rise, raises the 1 can through a centering device to theseaming head, receiving in suchmovement an.

automatically fed can end which is seamed in place by the seaming head,whichV willi be llater described.y A y I The can now being closed thecan lifter 8d descends lowering the c sed can from the seaming headagain to t e main feed table '21, As the can lifter is descending, butbefore the same has completed its stroke, the can is again engaged by alonger can extracting linger 125 hxed 'on the conveyer 'chain 52, andwhich projects upwardly through the space l109 between the base plates106 and 107 and conveys the closed can od the lifter head 'and alongthetrack to the delivering point on the table 21. These extractingfingers 125 are `'comparatively straight.

i and are located upon the conveyer chain 52 yin theV spaces between'the curved can ,feeding fingers 53. llt will be noticed that the cansare so spaced, and their movement so timed before they are deliveredupon -the'main feed table 21;.that they are caught only by4 the curvedconveying fingers 53, allowing the can extracting lingers 125 to passythe receiving point without having a can deliva-Lredbe` fore them. A canhaving vbeen carried'on to the lifter 8d by the conveying hngers 53 is'raised,vseamed and lowered in time to'be caught by theextracting'fingerimmediately succeeding `the conveying finger that deliv-z ered the cantothe seaming station. By this e arrangement there' is always a spaceawait- 1 ing to receive a seamed can andthe operation of the machine isvery rapid.

The filled cans having beenvseamed and' .closed and returned to the maintable 21 are conveyed along the table -by the extracting vto the. pointwhere-they are desired to be def fingers 125. between guide rails 126and 127 "liveredg 'llhereare several such'vpoints on the tablewhere Ythe closed.' cans may he so delivered.A rllhese points may be determinedby the arrangement of the guide extensions or can-switching rails 128.'lhey may be conveyed along the tableI and delivered at the,

front-of the machine at a point indicated by `'the letter A or they maybe delivered at the vend ofthe table at B. l llt is still possible' thatthe location lof the machine will make it de- "sirable to have the canscontinue around the table between the guide rails 12S) and 130 rand\.del iveredlfrom .the machine atthe 'rear of the same at the pointindicated at C.

Ang'suitahle can and seaming mechanism may ecombined to cooperatewithfthe said can feedingdevices. As illustrated (Fig. a)-

.this aperture by a feeding mechanism raeaaoa the seaming mechanismcomprises a rotary seamin head 87 mounted to revolveon a vertica axisand located axially above the 4said can lifter 8d. 'lhis seaming headmay comprise rst and second operation seaming rolls 159, 159 which arecaused to slide. ra-

dially to perform the seaming operations by levers 172, 172 plvotallymounted on the seaming head. r lhese levers are operated vby cams 145,145 hx'ed 0n a sleeve 1114, and this sleeve is reciprocated verticallyby a yoke lever 204C, the said lever being rpcked at suitable times,preferably by mechanism connected with a vertical cam shaft 59 arrangedat the rear of( the machine. Arranged within the seaming headv is avertically reciprocable knockout rod 14:9 for disengaging the seamedcans from the head. Also mountedl in the se f seaming-head to .rotatetherewith is an upper .can ends Aautomatically to the opentops of thecans before they are operated on by the Vaal seamin head,'the followingbeing preferred: 1'

Secure at one end to the under side of the seaming head casing 131 andextending outwardly therefrom and overhanging the main conveying table21 of thel machine, is a can end feed bracket 250. rllhis bracket has avchannel or track 251 machined.- in its upper face which corresponds inshape in cross section to the cross section of a can end so that the topsurface of a can en being conveyed i along the said ,track will be flushwith the surface of the bracket 250. The track 2 51 extends inwardly andterminates in a circular aperture 252. in the bracket 250 axially'beneath the `seaming head 87 and over the can lifter 8d. The can end/isdeposited over resently tobe described, and there awaits the can body-asit rises under the action of the can lifter 84:, being of a largerdiameter before seaming than the said aperture. Said aperture forms acentering device for the can aslit is elevated-to the seaming head,'

being dared or beveled at the under side of the-bracket, as shownat 252(lli` ig. d), 'Secured to the bracket 250 and above the track 4251 is acasing or cover 253, which forms the" support for a can end stack holder254e, the latter bein located above the outermost end rio of the trac orchannel 251. 'lhe casing 253,

beneath the can end holder 25a, has aV circu lar aperture 254k thereinto .permit the can ends'to descend vertically from the holderA 254C tothe track 251 and into position to have the lowermost one separated fromthe stack and conveyed along the said track to the centering .device bytwo successive movements.

mamada In-the bracket 250 andr substantially in thel center of theAtrack 251 is a longitudinal slot or passageway 255 which extends downthrough the bracket. and the sides of which are horizontally recessed asat 256 and forms the supporting and iding means for a reciproca-tingslide 257 the sides of which are'so shaped as to engage within thehorizontal recesses 256. The slide 257 is preferably formed in two'parts, va lower and longer finger .bar 258 and an upper and shortercarrier bar 259. Pivoted' to the inner extremity of the linger bar 258is a can end engaging linger 26() which 'extends upwardly above thesurface of the track 251 and inthe path of the can ends. This linger'isnormally lheld in its upward nd engaging position by a leaf spring 261which bears against an outwardly projecting lug 262 on the finger-260.The inner and can end engaging shoulderf264 of the carrier bar isprovided with a steel 'lin 265 which extends inwardly slightly andprojects ovei` the can end when the latter is 'engaged and-serves tosome ex'tenfto assist in separating thelowermost one of the nested' canends from the stack prior to extracting itfrom beneath the stack andconveying it to the centering device.

Mounted upon the bracket 250 upon an eccentric adjusting 'pivot 266 andlocated vat one side' of the passageway 255, is a le'fver 267 one end ofwhich carries a can end separating knife 268 while the other end thereofcarries a roller 269 which bears against the edge of the carrier bar 259and coacts with a recess 270 in the'form of a cam or inclined surface271, in the latter.`` The roller 269 is yieldably held against ythe sideof the carrier bar 259 by a spring 272, one end of which is attached tothe inner end of a lever 267 and the other end thereof secured to thebracket 250. It will be seen that when the slide 257 is moved to itsoutermost po-4 sition the roller 269runder the action of the spring 272will engage in the recess 270 in the carrier bar 259, allowingtheseparating knife 268 to move laterally from beneath the stack of nestedcan ends and permitting the same to descend and rest upon the track 251.lVhen.l however, the slide 257 commences to move inwardly alon itsguide-way, the cam Surface-271 will engage the roller 269 and force thelsame` out of the recess 270 until it bears against the straight side. ofthe carrier bar 259. Thls outward movement of the roller l269 overcomesthe spring 272 and turns the lever 267 about its pivot, causing theseparating 'knife 268 to enter betweenv the y.ed s of the can ends inthe stack and above t e bottom one, cutting out the latter from itsnested position and at the 4saine time lifting the remainder ,of thestack and supporting the saie clear of the carrier bar 259 as it con-Veys a single can end so separated along the track. Secured to the underside of the seaming head casing v131 and extending outwardly' therefromis a can end 'feed lever bracket 324 terminating in a. vertical bearing3.25. Suspended beneath this bearing is a can end feed lever 326 whichis supported by a stud shaft 327 which is integral therewith and whichextends upwardly and is journaled inthe said bearing 325 (F ig.L 12).The can end feed lever 326 is preferably of inverted channel bar formand formsv a housing 328 for a can end feed lever arm 329. ThisV arm v329 is pivoted as indicated. at 330 between the flanges of the housing328. The lever arm 329 is normally held in raised position byl a coiledspring 331 located near the inner or vrear end of the lever arm. Theupward movement of the outer extremity of said levser arm 329 isregulated'lby a set screw 332 in the lever arm housing 328. The leverarm 329 extends outwardly and beneath'the can end feed bracket 250 andfeed slide engaging two. pins 333 'and 334 (Fig.

4) located on the under side of the finger y bar 258 and which projectdownwar therefrom upon each side of the lever arm 329. The forward pin334 is slightly shorter than the vrear pin 333 and is beveled las isindicated at 335. It will be apparent that when the lever arm 329 movesforward towards the seaming station it will engage the shorter pin334thereb causing the slide 25T v to move forward,.an upon the backwardmovement of the said arm 329 the same will engage the longer pin 333and` cause the slide 257 to move rearwardly and into p e` sition toextract another can end from lbeneath the stack.

AIt will be apparent that as the slide 257 is reciprocated the shoulder264 of the carrier bar 259 will extract the separated can end frombeneath the stack and convey it along the track 251. The slide thenreturns and upon its next forward stroke the finger 260 of the fingerbar 258 will remove the. can end previously deposited on the track andcarry it to the centering device' where it is deposited over theaperture 252 andn-a position to be engaged by a can body and seamedthereon. W'hile the linger bar l258 'has been removing theLintermediately disposed can end to the seaming head, the carrier bar259 has extracted another can end from beneaththe stack and deposited iton the track where it is Waiting to be delivered` to the seaming head bythe finger bar. lBy this1 method there is a constant and successivefeeding of can ends to the seaining station. without the loss of time.

In order to prevent the can ends from' riding Ebackwards upon the fingerbar 258' on the backward stroke of the same and after the can end hasvbeen first deposited on thetrack, there vis provided in the casing 253a pin 336. V'lhis pin projects downwardly and has'its lower end beveledas at 337. 'lhe upper end of the pin 336 engages a leaf spring 338,which serves to yieldably hold the said pin in its depressed and can endengaging position. As a can end is conveyed forward by the carrier bar259 it engages the beveled surfacegof said pin, forcing it upward andallowing the can end to pass beneath, but upon the rearward `stroke ofthe carrier bar the can end engages the straight edge of the pin and isprevented from moving rearwardly.

The wearing surfaces of the bearing 325 are protected by a tubularbushing 339 having at its upper extremity a collar 3l() which forms abearing surface for a lever latch arm 341 which is mounted upon theupperend of the stud shaft 327. 'lhe lever- 326 andiits shaft 327 aresupported in the bearing 325 by a Washer 34:2, whichis secured by lascrew 343 to the upper end of the'stud shaft 327 and rests upon thelatch arm 341. Pivoted to the outer end of the said latch arm 341 by apivot pin 344C is an eccentric rod connection 3fl5into which is threadedan eccentric rod 34:6. y'lhe said eccentric rod extends across themachine and is secured to an eccentric strap 347 which passes around aneccentric 3l8'vtixed upon the vertical cam shaft 59;. 'lhe arm 341 isconnected with the lever 326 by a, latch 351 so as to operate the same.

lPivoted lto the under side of the bracket 324i is a can end feed indexlever 361 (Fig.

13) having a long arm 362 and a short arm.

363 extending at substantially right angles to each otherQ 'lhe arm 362extends outwardly and over the lever arm housing 328 and `is provided onits under side and' at its outer end with a cam 364%. 'llhis camengagesa pin 365 projecting vertically from the lever arm 329 through anaperture 366v 'is a; connecting rod 367 which extends across the machinebeneath the seaming head casin 131, and which is held up in a horizontposition by a Vguiding support 367 attached to said casing. A Y Mountedupon thejtable 21 near the recei end thereof and adjacent the path ofthe cans passing to the sea'ming station is aA bracket 368 in which ismounted a vertical stud shaft 369,' vwhich is integral with acan-controlled trip lever 370 which rests lupm the table 21l and whichprojects across -the path'of the cans beneath the can guides and whichis actuated 'by the passing cans.

afname Adjustably'mounted by means of a clamp bolt 371 Aupon the studshaft 369 and below the bracket 368 Jis a verticallver arm 372 whichengages a notch 373 .in 'an arm'connection 374: to which is secur d theend of the connecting rod 367. llt wi be apparent that through thisconstruction the lever arm 329 will normally oscillate to and frowithout reciprocating the slide 257,but as soon as a can body passingalong its track engages the trip lever 370, it will force the sameinwardv (lFig. 10) thereby throwing the vertical lever 372 about itspivot, causing the arm 362 of the cam lever 361, through the medium ofthe connecting rod 367, to be moved .from its engaging position abovethe pin 365 in the" can end feed arm 329 (Fig. 13) allowing the same torise under the action of the coiled spring 331 to its engaging` positionwith the short pin 33t in the 'linger bar 258, which can thenbe movedforward by the arm 329. When the arm reaches a point near the limit ofits throw, the housing 328 will engage a set screw 375 mounted 362causing the lever armv 329 to be de-v pressed out of -engagement withshorter pin 33t on the ger bar 258. 'lhe armwill:

continue to oscillateabout its pivot (suprupted) being depressed each tewhenit reachesa point near thelit of .its 'bach-` .f ward movement.v'llhis will continue without anyactuation of the can end feed slideuntil another canactuates the can-controlled trip lever 370 causing thearm 362 and its cam 364k to be thrown out of the path of the pin 365.llt will-be noticed that the lever arm 329 isnot depressed low enough toprevent it from engaging the longer pin 333 on the finger' bary 258,which' pin is' only encounteredyby the lever` arm 329 on its posing thefeg of cans to be inter'- Ilot rio.

`return or backward movementandfwhich is designed only to return theslide. 257 vto Y its outward position. llt will also benoticed 'that'the can end feed "mechanilfm thrown into operation `by eachY indiviualcan as it actuates the cancontrolledflever .and isv` thrown out'of`engagement as'soon' as a can end is fed \to the'seaing station;and 'ifAa,

.can body is not in Positioll^ .to be jasmin th@ me. sa;

can end will'not-v be fed toV Power" may be counicated to thel l* Lshaft 55? by any suitable mechanism."

llt will be seen that the rearwardly inclined or curvedcan-advancjtlngers 53 movement of the can is retarded but con tinued atdiminishing speed.l The top surface of the lifter frictionally resiststhe horizontal movement ofthe can and causes it to Vhug thevfront faceof said finger 53. This resistance is increased and the can steadied bythe action of the guide bar 111, as described. A My invention does notexclude a construction and arrangement in which the continuously movingcan feeding chain is' depressed out of. engagement with the can'so as toleave the latter at the seaming station, and the seaming head isdepressed by known means so as to operate upon and seam the "can withoutthe necessity of elevating the latter; the can engaging portion of thechain being then raised from said depressed position so as to remove theseamed can.

By seaming head I include various can end attaching means. Such meansmay be a clincher which crimps the head loosely on to a can, all aroundthe circumference or in (spots. Also, when the seaming head is used,

only the first operation or curling roll may be put in operation, thecomplete hermetic seaming by the second operation being done b v anysuitable means after processing the filled and partly or loosely closedcan; and the words closing machine are not limited to a machine whichhermetically--closes the cans.

In Fig. 14 the parts 9, 10 and 17 relate to the can feeding and spacingmechanism; the parts 23, 32, 35, 35', 36, 37, 37', 39, 40, 42, 43, 44,45, and 46. relate to the topping mechanism; 36 is the extended base ofthe main frame l; the parts 241, 242, 243, 244 and 245 relate to themechanism for disengaging, the can from the seaming head; the parts 312to 323 relate to the can marking mechanism; 420 is a coupling whichunites the upper and y lower parts of the shaft 59.

What is claimed is:

1. In a can seaming and closing machine; in combination: seamingmechanism; a continuously movable `can-carrier arranged fto deliver cansunder and to convey them away from the said seaming mechanism, saidcarrier being provided with two sets ofcan-en- Agagmg means, one set fordelivering the cans beneath the seaming mechanism and the other set forconveying the cansy awayr .from the said seaming mechanism; and areciprocating can-feeding `means cooperating transversely with the saidcarrier to transfer cans from said carrier to the seaming mechanism andfrom saidC seaming mechanism to lthe carrier.

2. In a can seaming and closing machine,

in. combination: seaming mechanism; 'a continuously movable. can-carrierarranged to deliver cans under and to convey them away from the saidseaming mechanism, saidy carrier being providedwith two sets ofcanengaging means, one set for lcans beneath the seaming mec anism andVhaving backwardly' inclined `c an engaging faces, and the other set forconveying the cans away from thesaid seaming mechanism and areciprocatingcan-feeding means vto the'seaming mechanism and from saidseaming'mechanism to the chain.

4. Inv a. can seaming and closing machine in combination: a seamingmechanism; a continuously moving endless can-carrying chain arranged todeliver cans under and to convey them away from the said seamingmechanism and provided with means for livering the holding the cans inspaced arrangement; can

vend feeding mechanism; a reciprocating plunger co-operatingtransversely with the K said chain to transfer cans from said 'chain tothe seaming mechanism and froml said seaming mechanism to the chain; andmeans 'cooperating with the said can-carrying chain actuated by thesuccessive cans thereon and. controlling the operation of the said canend `feeding mechanism. i

v 5. In a can seaming and closing machine, in combination: a seamingmechanism; a continuously moving endless can-'carrying chain arrangedtodeliver cans inline with Iand to convey them away from the saidseaming mechanism; and a reciprocating can feeding means cooperatingtransversely with the said chain to transfer Lcans from said chain tothe seaming mechanism and from said seaming mechanism to the chain;

said chain being provided with two sets of` can-engaging means, one setfcr, delivering the cans to said reciprocating can feeding acarreo@ thecan is continued at retarded speed on said .lifter while it is beingdisengaged from said carrier. l i

7. ln' a .can seam'ing and closing machine, in combination: acontinuously movable can carrier; avseaming mechanism; can holding andspacing means moving uniformly with the carrier and a cooperating canlifter having means whereby the movement of the filled and open Vcan isretarded relative to the movement of the' carrier while it is stillengaged by the said holding and spacing means. A

8. ln a can seaming and closing machine, in combination: acontinuouslymovable can carrier; a seaming mechanism; la reciprocat- /ing canfeeding means cooperating .transversely Withthe said can carrier totransfer cans from said carrier to the seaming mechanism and-from theseaming mechanism to the carrier, and can-engaging and spacing meansmoving uniformly with the carrier adapted to disengage gradually fromthe can as 'the latter is moved away fromv the carrier; and meanswhereby the movement of the can is retarded relative to the movement ofthe carrier.

9. ln a can seaming and closing machine, in combination.: seamingmechanism; a continuously movable can carrier providedlwith -meansforholding the cans in spaced Larrangement andnvhich areconstructed-.with means to permit the gradual disengagement of the canssuccessively as they come in line' with the seaming mechanism; meansfor' retarding the movement ofthe cans relative to y said carrier; acentering device; and means for disengaging .the cans from the carrierand placing them in cooperative relation' with the centering device andthe seaming mechanism. I C

10. lln a can seaming ,and closing machine, in combination: seamingmechanism; a continuously movable canfcarrier provided with' means forholding the cans A in spaced ary rangement and adapted to permitl thedisengagement of the cans at the seaming station .during the continuedmovement of the carrier; means for retarding the movementof the cansduring such disengagement; means for disengaging the cans from thecarrier and lplacing them in cooperative relation with the seamingmechanism; can end feeding mechanism'for delivering can ends in the pathof vmovement of thecans towards the sea'ming mechanism; and meanswhereby the cans while engaged bythe carrier control ythe operation ofsaidcan end feeding mechanism. f

` 11. ln a can seaming and closing machine, vin combination: acontinuously movable can D carrier arranged beneath the path ofthe cans;a seaming mechanism; a reciprocating can feeding means cooperatingtransverselywith the-'said can carrier to transfer cans from saidcarrier Ito the seammg mechanism and from the Seamingl mechanism to thecarrier; means on said carrier whereby, in co-J rier extending under andbeyond said seaming station and provided with can engaging members; andImeans for vertically disengaging the can and the can engaging memberbef fore the seaming operation whereby a member of said carrier deliversacan to the seaming station and anothermember of said car- `rler removessaid can from the seaming station.

13. A continuously moving conveyer having a plurality of continuouslyadvancing can-engaging and spacing means; can end attaching means; vandcanlifting mechanism which receives the lcans and lifts them from thesaid Vengaging means of the conveyer to said 'attaching means and afterthe operation thereof lowers them into the path of other of saidengaging means of the conveyer. v

la. ln a machine' for attaching can ends to can bodies, the combinationof can end attaching means, a continuously moving can carrier havingnngers with rearwardly -inclined can-engaging faces for holding cans indehnite spaced arrangement, devices for transferring the cans from thesaid carrier to 'said attaching means, and actuatin mechanism wherebythe ysaid carrier an transferring devices are operated in timed relationto each other to disengage the cans from the said holding means andtransfer them into operativevrelation with the said' attaching means.

l5.l lln a machine for operation on cans, the combination ofcontinuously l moving mechanism having a plurality of spaced can-lpropelling devices for moving cans mto said machine, operating mechanisminto line with which the cans are so moved, means for first retardingand then stopping the horizontal movement of the cans as they arrive inline' with said operating mechanism, and means for receiving the cansfrein said continuously moving mechanism and acting to remove. them fromsaid propelling devices and l present them to said operating mechanism,

and after the operation of the latter actingl to `,restore them into thepath of other-fof said propelling devices of the continuously moving'mechanisim the latter acting to carry the cansV out of the machine.

16. In a machine for attaching can endsv toeach other to disengage thecans from the said holding means and transfer them into operativerelation with the said attaching means, and can-retarding means whichyieldinglyengage the cans as they arrive at the point of transfer, thesaid holding means of the carrier being constructed to permit suchretardin of the cans.

17. In a machine or attaching-can ends to can bodies, the combination ofcan end attaching means, a lifter for raising the cans relative to saidattaching means, a continuously moving can carrier having means forholding cansl in definite spaced arrangement and actingv to place thecans successively over the said lifter, means for adjusting the carrierin its path to regulate the positions of the said'holding means, andactuating mechanism whereby the said carrier and lifter are operated intimed relation to each other to disengage thecans from said holdingmeans and lift them into operative relation with the said attachingmeans.

1S. In a machine for attaching can ends to can bodies, the combinationof can endv attaching means, a lifter for raising the cans relative tosald attaching means, acontinuously moving -endless chain can carrierhaving means for holding cans in definite.

spaced arrangement and acting to place the cans successively over thesaid lifter, and actuating mechanism whereby the said carrier and lifterare operated in timed relation to veach other to disengage the cans fromsaid holding means at a station and lift them into operative relationwith the said attaching means, said carrier being arranged to re-Vengage the cans at the station where they were so disengaged.

19. In a can closing machine, the combination of a seaming mechanism, acontinuously moving conveyer, having fixed can advancing members securedthereto for ad vancing open end cans continuously in spaced single leprocessional arrangement, and cooperating `upwardly moving mechanism forremoving each can from said conveyer as it vreaches operative alignmentwith said seaming mechanism and assembling with a can cover, andreplacing the said c an with its assembled cover onto said continuouslymovin conveyer', still spaced ahead of the next fo lowing open end canwithout interrupting the continuous forward .move-v ment of any oftheadvancing cans on said conveyer.

20. In a can closing machine, the combination of a seaming mechanismacontinuously moving conveyer, having positive can advancing means movingalways at the same speed of said conveyer for advancing open end canscontinuously in spaced single file processional arrangement, andcooperating upwardly moving mechanism for removing each can from saidconveyer .as it reaches operative alignment with said seaming mechanismand assembling it with a can cover,- and replacing the said can with itsassembled cover onto said continuously movin conveyer, still spacedahead of the next ollowing open end can without interru ting'thecontinuous forward movement o any .of the advancing cans on saidconveyer.

21. In a can closing machine, the combination of a seaming mechanism, acontinuously moving conveyer having alternate sets of conveying sectionsfor advancing cans, one set of said conveying sections arranged foradvancing open end cans in spaced single s@ file processionalarrangement to cooperat- Y. ing upwardly moving mechanism for removingeach can from said conveying section as it reaches alignment with saidseaming mechanism and placing it in contactwith a positioned can cover,and moving the can and cover into operative relation with said seamingmechanism to secure the said cover tothe said can and then returning thecan with cover to the next advancingconveying section still spaced aheadof the next following open end can without interrupting the continuousforward moyem'ent of any of the advancing cans on said conveyer.

`22. In a can closing machine, the combination of a seaming mechanism, acontinuously moving conveyer havlngl spaced can-propelling devices foradvancing open end cans continuously in spaced single file processionalarrangement, and cooperating upwardly moving mechanism for removing eachcan from .out of the path of sai spaced devices of said conveyer as itreaches operative alignment with said seaming 1w mechanism and.assembling it with a can cover, and replacing the said can, with itsassembled cover onto said continuously moving conveyer still spacedahead of the next following Open end can dwithout interrupt-K12@ ing thecontinuous forward movement of any of the advancing cans on saidconveyer.

23. In a machine wherein ^filled cans are handled, an endlesscontinuously traveling can-carrying belt having a plurality of can 125spacing and propelling means which are constructed to permit acontinuous forward movement of the carrier relative to the can while theforward movement of the propelled can is retarded, in combination with13e such can-retarding means and can-liftin means.

- 2a. lin a can seaming machine, the combination of a continuouslyoperating conveyer provided with regularly spaced canengaging lugs,means for delivering cans to alternate lugs only of said conveyer, meansfor `removing a can from, in front of one of said lugs and replacing itin front et the next succeeding lug, and means for operating upon saidcan while removed from said conveyer.

' 25. lin a can seaming and closing machine, lin combination:l a seamingmechanism; a continuously moving can-carrier arranged to deliver cansunder and to convey them away from the said seaming mechanism; andprovided with means for holding the cans in spaced arrangement; and arecipro eating can-feeding means cooperating transversely with the saidcan carrier to transfer cans out of the path of said holding means ofthe carrier and to the 4seaming mechanism and from said seamingmechanism back to within the path of said holding means.

'26. lin a can seaming and closing machine, in combination: a seamingmechanism; a continuously moving can-carrier arranged to deliver cansinline with and to convey them away from the said seaming mechanism;Land provided with means for holding the cans in spaced arrangement; anda reciprocating plunger cooperating with the said can carrier totransfer cans out of the path of said holding means of the carrier andto the seaming mechanism and from said seamingmechanism back to withinthe said holding means. A

27, lin a can ,seaming and closing machine, in combination: a rotary canend seaming head; a continuously moving can'- path of carrier arrangedto deliver cans in line with and to convey themaway from the saidseaming mechanism; and provided with ing means.

means for holding the cans in spaced arrangement ;v and a reciprocatingplunger cooperating with the 'said can carrier to trans- :ter cans outof the path of said holding means of. the carrier and to the seamingmechanism and fromsaid seaming mechanism bach to within the path of saidhold- 28. lin a lcan sea-ming and closing machine, in combination: a'seaming mechanism; an upper, can holding chuck; a continuously.7

movlng can-carrier arranged to deliver cans 'under andto convey them,away from, the Isaid seaming mechanism; and provided with means forholding the cans in spaced ar- .rangement; anda lower reciprocatingVplunger or chuck cooperating with the said 'can carrier to transfer cansfrom within the path of said holding means of the carrier to the saidupper chuck and seaming mechainstance,

nisni, and thence back to within the said holding means.

29. lin a can seaming and closing machine, in combination: seamingmechanism; canend feeding mechanism; a continuously movable can-carrierarranged to deliver cans under and to convey them away from the saidseaming mechanism; and provided with means 'for-holding the cans inspaced arrangement; and a reciproca-ting can-feeding means cooperatingtransversely with the said carrier to transfer cans out of the path ofsaidholding means of the carrier and to the seaming mechanism and fromsaid seamin mechanism back to within the path of said holding means. I

30. 'llhe combination of a. continuously moving conveyor having meansfor holding cans in spaced arrangement and adapted to convey cans in agiven direction; can end attaching means; and upwardly moving mechanismacting yto remove cans successively from within the pathof the holdingmeans of said conveyor and into operative path et relation with the canend attaching means,

and to return them in a reverse direction and by the same path to Withinthe sphere of operation of said holding means.

31. ln a machine for attaching can ends to can bodies, the combinationof can end attaching means, a continuously moving can carrierhavinglrmeans for holding cans in definite spaced arrangement, devicesfor transferring the cans from said carrler to said attaching means, andactuating mechanism whereby the said carrierv and transferring devicesare operated in timed relation to each other to remove the cans from thepath' of said holding means at a station and transfer them intooperative relation with said attaching means, said 7carrier beingarranged to reengage vthe cans after attachment of their ends, at thesame station where they were -so removed.

32. lin a can seaming'and closing machine, in combination, seamingmechanism, canlll@ end feeding means, Va continuously movable 33. lln'`acan seaming and closing machine,

in combination, a seaming mechanism, canend feeding mechanism, acontinuously moving can-carrier arranged to deliver cans 1n llne withand to ccnvey them away from cans fromfwithin the sphere of operation ofsaid carrier to the seaming mechanism and from said seaming rmechanismto Within the sphere of operation o f the carrier, and means cooperatingwith thesaid can carrier, ac-

v tuated by the continuously moving carrier through the media of thesuccessive cans Athereon and controlling the loperation of the said canend feeding mechanism.

34. In a can seaming and closing machine,

in combination, a seaming mechanism, a continuously moving can carrierarranged to deliver cans in line with and to convey them away from thesaid seaming mechanism, and provided with means for holding the cans inspaced arrangement, can-end feeding mechanism, a reciprocating plungercooperating withthe said can carrier to transfercans from Within thesphere of operationof said carrier to the seaming mechanism and fromsaid seaming mechanism to within theV sphereof operation of the carrier,and means cooperating with the said can carrier, actuated by thesuccessive .cans thereon and controlling the operation of the said canvend feeding mechanism.

35. In a machine for attaching can ends to can bodies, thecombination of'can end attaching means, a continuously moving can carrier having meansfor holdingv cans in' definite spaced arrangement, can end feedingmeans, devlces for transferringthe cans' from the said carrier to saidattaching means, actuatingmechanism whereby the said carrier andtransferring devices are operated in timed relation toezch other toremove the cans from ,within the sphere of operation of said holdingmeans andtransfer them into operative relation with x the said attachingmeans 'and then to return said cans to Within the sphere .of operationof said holding means, and means whereby al can while engaged by saidcan carrier controls the operation of the said can end feedy.

l ing means.

36. In a machine for attaching can ends to can bodies, the combinationof can end attaching-means, a lifter for raising the cans relative tosaid attaching means, can end feeding means, a continuously moving cancarrier havingv means ,for holding cans in definitevspaced arrangementandv acting`to place the cansasuccessively over the said lifter,actuating mechanism whereby the said carrier and lifter are operated intimed relation to each other to` remove the cans from within the sphereof operation .of said holding means and lift them into operativerelationwith the said attaching means and then to return said cans intothe sphere of operation of said holding means, and means whereby a canWhile engaged by the said can carrier controls the operation of the saidcan end feeding means.

v In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature hereto.

AXEL JOHNSON.

